Kukuk had his first full season in the minors in 2013, making 24 starts for Low-A Greenville. There were both positive (high strikeout rate, low hits allowed) and negative signs (high walk rate). The troubles were attributed to poor mechanics, something he worked on all season. His second half walk rate improved and carried over into this spring. His fastball sits in the 92-94 range and pushes up to 95 or 96. He's incorporating a mid-80s slider and a low-80s change, both of which he can flash but needs to be more consistent. He's set to open the season at Low-A Greenville again, but a promotion to High-A Salem is expected.

2013

Kukuk spent most of the 2012 season on the restricted list and pitched just 10 innings for the Gulf Coast Red Sox in the rookie league. Still just 19, Kukuk had to deal with a driving under the influence charge, of which he was eventually acquitted. However, the episode cost him a year of development time and raised questions about his judgment. Prior to this setback, Kukuk showed good stuff with a fastball-slider mix, but needs to develop more repeatability with his release point and learn how to locate his fastball to various areas of the strike zone. The upcoming season is about answering the maturity issue that cropped up in 2012 and recapturing the traction from 2011 when the seventh-round pick impressed scouts. Look for Kukuk to remain in Florida when the Red Sox break camp and an eventual placement at Short-Season Lowell or a mid-season placement at Low-A Greenville.

2012

Kukuk is a seventh-round draft pick straight out of high school in Kansas. The 6-4 lefty has a clean and easy delivery, and throws a low-90s heater, a slider with plus potential, and he's working to develop a changeup. 2012 will be all about repeating the timing of his delivery and working to command the fastball. We suspect he'll hang back in extended spring training with a mid-season date in the Short-Season New York-Penn League for Lowell.